The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) Shares Purchased by Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC

Key Points

• Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC increased its stake in The Walt Disney Company by 18.1%, holding 134,129 shares worth approximately $13.2 million, making it their 21st largest holding.
• The Walt Disney Company reported $1.45 earnings per share for the previous quarter, surpassing estimates, with revenue of $23.62 billion, a 7% increase year-over-year.
• Several institutional investors, including Kessler Investment Group LLC, have significantly increased their positions in Disney, indicating growing confidence in the stock.

Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC increased its stake in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Free Report) by 18.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 134,129 shares of the entertainment giant's stock after purchasing an additional 20,539 shares during the period. Walt Disney accounts for about 0.9% of Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC's holdings in Walt Disney were worth $13,239,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of DIS. Bell & Brown Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Walt Disney by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Bell & Brown Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 53,624 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $5,293,000 after acquiring an additional 679 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ increased its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 381,010 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $37,606,000 after purchasing an additional 10,472 shares in the last quarter. Equitable Trust Co. increased its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 10,993 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $1,085,000 after purchasing an additional 510 shares in the last quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,799 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $572,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caliber Wealth Management LLC KS acquired a new position in Walt Disney during the first quarter worth $1,008,000. 65.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Walt Disney

In related news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.84, for a total value of $110,840.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 46,831 shares in the company, valued at $5,190,748.04. The trade was a 2.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.16% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Walt Disney Price Performance

Walt Disney stock traded down $0.51 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $121.44. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,587,104 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,479,350. The firm has a market capitalization of $218.32 billion, a PE ratio of 24.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.67. The Walt Disney Company has a fifty-two week low of $80.10 and a fifty-two week high of $124.69. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $117.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $107.37.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The entertainment giant reported $1.45 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.24. Walt Disney had a net margin of 9.47% and a return on equity of 9.99%. The business had revenue of $23.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $23.15 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.21 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DIS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Loop Capital upped their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, June 10th. Guggenheim upped their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, June 27th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Walt Disney from $125.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Walt Disney from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the company from $100.00 to $144.00 in a research report on Monday, June 30th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $128.13.

About Walt Disney

The Walt Disney Company operates as an entertainment company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. The company produces and distributes film and television video streaming content under the ABC Television Network, Disney, Freeform, FX, Fox, National Geographic, and Star brand television channels, as well as ABC television stations and A+E television networks; and produces original content under the ABC Signature, Disney Branded Television, FX Productions, Lucasfilm, Marvel, National Geographic Studios, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios, 20th Television, and Walt Disney Pictures banners.